Time to Shine
January 28, 2011 11:58 AM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - The tension was high on the floor of Reynolds Coliseum on Jan. 21, as the No. 18 West Virginia gymnastics team attempted to complete its three-rotation comeback and steal a win at No. 10 NC State. Though early in the season, the meet was full of implications, as the winner would not only own bragging rights, but also earn the inside track in the race for the 2011 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) crown.
After falling behind 0.475 points in the first rotation, the Mountaineers responded with focus and tenacity, outscoring the Wolfpack in the next two rotations. With the victory hanging in the balance, WVU needed a clean, six-for-six beam rotation to have a chance at the win.
Amidst the average meet anxiety that lingers around the beam, sophomore Arlene Hathaway was juggling her own mix of emotions, for the Walled Lake, Mich., native was about to earn her first collegiate competition experience.
“Nothing like pressure!” she exclaimed one week later. “I kept telling myself, ‘just like Cary Gym.’ That’s what (coach) Linda (Burdette-Good) always tells us.”
Shoving her fears and trepidations aside, Hathaway successfully competed her routine, balancing bobbles with on-point dance and grace and earning a 9.55 score.
“I was just smiling because I was happy I stayed on the beam,” she said of her post-routine emotions. “I was happy and excited. Also, it was nice to hear my teammates tell me they were proud of me.”
The role reversal was a welcome reprieve for Hathaway. The consummate team cheerleader, she spent the first 18 months of her Mountaineer career on the sidelines, encouraging her teammates as they competed in front of the crowds.
Hampered by a toe injury throughout most of her rookie season, her first career injury, associate head coach Jason Butts says Hathaway had to dig down deep to find the will necessary to overcome the setback. Poised for the chance to also compete on the bars and floor lineups, Butts says Hathaway is exceeding his expectations.
“She has a renewed desire to contribute to the team,” Butts explained. “She’s one of the hardest workers in the gym right now, giving 150 percent, and she’s pushing.
“Adjusting to college is always hard, but Arlene has found her way this season. She’s realized that a lot of hard work goes into making lineups, and her positive attitude has helped her push into the mix.”
Hathaway, a pre-elementary education major, acknowledges that the adjustment was not as easy as she had hoped for, but she has found a balance in her second season.
“Last year was super hard – I probably cried at least once a week,” she said before smiling. “This year is definitely better because I’m used to everything, and I’ve learned to communicate better with others. I found myself in Morgantown this year.”
Also aiding in Hathaway’s self-discovery is the refreshed energy surrounding the Mountaineers this season.
“I feel like this team is a lot closer than last year,” she said. “We’re all just tighter and really trying hard to correct our mistakes from last season.”
Hathaway says the team’s performance last week at NCSU personifies the Mountaineers’ attitude adjustment, as they were able to bounce back after a disappointing 196.725-192.125 loss at then-No. 5 Georgia on Jan. 17.
“That shows how fast we can figure out what we did wrong, and that we know how to bounce back quickly,” the NACGC/W Scholastic All-American explained. “We only had two practices in between those meets, but we were able to move on. That says a lot about this team.”
A team Hathaway is always behind, whether she is joining them in lineup or standing in the wings.
“I definitely cheer as loud as I can, even in practice,” she laughed. “I believe in every girl on this team. I feel like if I believe in them, then they will start to believe more in themselves and in their routines.”
Hathaway must now find that perfect balance between competing and cheering, hoping that her contributions on the apparatuses and beside her teammates will help the Mountaineers reach their season goals – an EAGL title, a top 18 ranking and a trip to the NCAA Championships.
Despite the Mountaineers’ best efforts, the team dropped its meet at NCSU, 194.55-194.475. Hathaway believes the squad is poised to get back on the winning track this weekend, as it plays host to EAGL foes Pitt and Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum, saying that the home gym gives the Mountaineers the ultimate advantage.
“The Coliseum is home,” she said. “It’s really fun to have fans cheering loudly for you. For other gymnasts, it can be intimidating. Between the lights and our loud fans, it’s hard. Plus, our team is loud, too.”
Hathaway says she’s most looking forward to meeting some of the fans after the meet, especially now that she has the chance to compete in front of them.
“I see the fans go up to my teammates after meets and tell them ‘good job,’ and I’m really looking forward to that,” she said, smiling. “These fans tell you ‘good job’ and you don’t even know them! That unconditional support means so much.”
Support is just what Hathaway needs as she makes the push for more competition time. After a year of adjustments and learning, she embraces the pressure that will now follow her throughout the remaining meets.
“I haven’t felt this way on a team before,” she concluded. “This is the first time that I’m feeling really good and ready to go.”
After falling behind 0.475 points in the first rotation, the Mountaineers responded with focus and tenacity, outscoring the Wolfpack in the next two rotations. With the victory hanging in the balance, WVU needed a clean, six-for-six beam rotation to have a chance at the win.
Amidst the average meet anxiety that lingers around the beam, sophomore Arlene Hathaway was juggling her own mix of emotions, for the Walled Lake, Mich., native was about to earn her first collegiate competition experience.
“Nothing like pressure!” she exclaimed one week later. “I kept telling myself, ‘just like Cary Gym.’ That’s what (coach) Linda (Burdette-Good) always tells us.”
Shoving her fears and trepidations aside, Hathaway successfully competed her routine, balancing bobbles with on-point dance and grace and earning a 9.55 score.
“I was just smiling because I was happy I stayed on the beam,” she said of her post-routine emotions. “I was happy and excited. Also, it was nice to hear my teammates tell me they were proud of me.”
The role reversal was a welcome reprieve for Hathaway. The consummate team cheerleader, she spent the first 18 months of her Mountaineer career on the sidelines, encouraging her teammates as they competed in front of the crowds.
Hampered by a toe injury throughout most of her rookie season, her first career injury, associate head coach Jason Butts says Hathaway had to dig down deep to find the will necessary to overcome the setback. Poised for the chance to also compete on the bars and floor lineups, Butts says Hathaway is exceeding his expectations.
“She has a renewed desire to contribute to the team,” Butts explained. “She’s one of the hardest workers in the gym right now, giving 150 percent, and she’s pushing.
“Adjusting to college is always hard, but Arlene has found her way this season. She’s realized that a lot of hard work goes into making lineups, and her positive attitude has helped her push into the mix.”
Hathaway, a pre-elementary education major, acknowledges that the adjustment was not as easy as she had hoped for, but she has found a balance in her second season.
“Last year was super hard – I probably cried at least once a week,” she said before smiling. “This year is definitely better because I’m used to everything, and I’ve learned to communicate better with others. I found myself in Morgantown this year.”
Also aiding in Hathaway’s self-discovery is the refreshed energy surrounding the Mountaineers this season.
“I feel like this team is a lot closer than last year,” she said. “We’re all just tighter and really trying hard to correct our mistakes from last season.”
Hathaway says the team’s performance last week at NCSU personifies the Mountaineers’ attitude adjustment, as they were able to bounce back after a disappointing 196.725-192.125 loss at then-No. 5 Georgia on Jan. 17.
“That shows how fast we can figure out what we did wrong, and that we know how to bounce back quickly,” the NACGC/W Scholastic All-American explained. “We only had two practices in between those meets, but we were able to move on. That says a lot about this team.”
A team Hathaway is always behind, whether she is joining them in lineup or standing in the wings.
“I definitely cheer as loud as I can, even in practice,” she laughed. “I believe in every girl on this team. I feel like if I believe in them, then they will start to believe more in themselves and in their routines.”
Hathaway must now find that perfect balance between competing and cheering, hoping that her contributions on the apparatuses and beside her teammates will help the Mountaineers reach their season goals – an EAGL title, a top 18 ranking and a trip to the NCAA Championships.
Despite the Mountaineers’ best efforts, the team dropped its meet at NCSU, 194.55-194.475. Hathaway believes the squad is poised to get back on the winning track this weekend, as it plays host to EAGL foes Pitt and Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum, saying that the home gym gives the Mountaineers the ultimate advantage.
“The Coliseum is home,” she said. “It’s really fun to have fans cheering loudly for you. For other gymnasts, it can be intimidating. Between the lights and our loud fans, it’s hard. Plus, our team is loud, too.”
Hathaway says she’s most looking forward to meeting some of the fans after the meet, especially now that she has the chance to compete in front of them.
“I see the fans go up to my teammates after meets and tell them ‘good job,’ and I’m really looking forward to that,” she said, smiling. “These fans tell you ‘good job’ and you don’t even know them! That unconditional support means so much.”
Support is just what Hathaway needs as she makes the push for more competition time. After a year of adjustments and learning, she embraces the pressure that will now follow her throughout the remaining meets.
“I haven’t felt this way on a team before,” she concluded. “This is the first time that I’m feeling really good and ready to go.”
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